Family Health Organization nurses, office professionals on strike to improve care

OWEN SOUND, ON, May 22, 2018 /CNW/ - More than 30 nurses, receptionists, and custodians at the Family Health Organization (FHO) in Owen Sound are on the picket line this morning.

Members of OPSEU Local 276 are striking over the low wages and unfair working conditions that prevent them from providing the health care and services that people in the community deserve.

"What these members and I are saying isn't complicated," said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "To provide good care to your patients, you need to provide decent wages and working conditions to your staff.

"To the doctors who own Family Health, I say: 'Get back to the table with a fair deal so our members can get back to work caring for the people and families of Owen Sound.'"

The Local 276 members rejected an offer that would see them paid much less than other Owen Sound health workers doing the same work. That offer would also have meant:

• The workers' wages would have continued their four-year fall compared to inflation
• Two people at Family Health doing the same work could have continued to be paid drastically different wages
• Still no fair and transparent system for pay increases based on experience
• Continued high workloads and workplace stress because of a staff "revolving door"

"None of these members want to be on strike," said OPSEU First Vice-President / Treasurer Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida. "But if they're going to provide good care and services in Owen Sound, they have to fight against the terrible working conditions they have now.

"They're standing up for themselves and for the patients. OPSEU is standing with them."

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)